Psalms 56

1 Be merciful to me, O God, for man would swallow me up. Fighting all the day long he oppresses me.

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “A Dove on Distant Oaks.” A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath. Be merciful to me, O God, for men are hounding me; all day they press their attack.

2 My enemies would swallow me up all the day long, for they are many who fight proudly against me.

My enemies pursue me all day long, for many proudly assail me.

3 What time I am afraid, I will put my trust in thee.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in You.

4 In God I will praise his word. In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?

In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

5 All the day long they wrest my words. All their thoughts are against me for evil.

All day long they twist my words; all their thoughts are on my demise.

6 They gather themselves together. They hide themselves. They mark my steps, even as they have waited for my soul.

They conspire, they lurk, they watch my steps while they wait to take my life.

7 Shall they escape by iniquity? In anger cast down the peoples, O God.

In spite of such sin, will they escape? In Your anger, O God, cast down the nations.

8 Thou number my wanderings. Put thou my tears into thy bottle. Are they not in thy book?

You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle— are they not in Your book?

9 Then shall my enemies turn back in the day that I call. This I know, that God is for me.

Then my enemies will retreat on the day I cry for help. By this I will know that God is on my side.

10 In God I will praise his word. In Jehovah I will praise his word.

In God, whose word I praise, in the LORD, whose word I praise,

11 In God I have put my trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

12 Thy vows are upon me, O God. I will render thank offerings to thee.

Your vows are upon me, O God; I will render thank offerings to You.

13 For thou have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living.

For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.